pullback

noun

pull·​back ˈpu̇l-ˌbak How to pronounce pullback (audio)
: a pulling back
especially : an orderly withdrawal of troops from a position or area

Examples of pullback in a Sentence

a pullback in consumer spending the pullback was necessary so that the commanders could reorganize their units and reassess the situation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some nonprofit leaders have explained the pullback as philanthropists caving to President Trump. Justin Worland, Time, 29 Aug. 2025 That balance means any pullback in Medicaid can push clinics into crisis. Drew Hawkins, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025 The American pullback could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to a study published in The Lancet last month. Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025 The gains ended a multiday losing streak that had begun to spark fears of a more sustained pullback by investors amid ongoing economic uncertainties. Rob Wile, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pullback

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pullback was in 1668

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Cite this Entry

“Pullback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pullback. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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